Rcs双组分调节系统对细菌环境应答的分子调控研究进展

荚膜异多糖酸合成调节(Regulator of Capsule Synthesis,Rcs)系统是存在于许多肠杆菌科细菌中非典型的双组分调节系统,由3种核心蛋白(跨膜感应激酶RcsC、跨膜蛋白RcsD和响应调节剂RcsB)及多种辅助蛋白共同构成。Rcs系统能整合环境信号、调节基因表达并改变细菌的生理行为。近年来,对细菌Rcs系统环境应答机制的探索成为一个新的研究热点。本文重点综述Rcs系统上游信号的感知与传导、Rcs系统调节的下游靶基因及其生命现象,以期能增进对细菌Rcs系统的认识,同时为细菌的安全控制、感染预防和治疗新方案的开发提供参考。     

基因芯片技术探究肺炎克雷伯菌RcsB的转录谱

肺炎克雷伯菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae,KP)是临床上重要的条件致病菌,主要引起肺炎、泌尿系统疾病、肝脓肿以及菌血症等临床疾病。Rcs B是磷酸信号转导系统中的核心调控子,有证据证明Rcs B可调控部分肠杆菌毒力的表达。本研究利用基因芯片技术筛选出Rcs B调控的靶基因并进行生物信息学分析,同时实时荧光定量PCR技术验证基因芯片结果。通过基因芯片技术共筛选出223个差异基因,其中表达下调基因有132个,表达上调基因有91个。q RT-PCR实验显示,挑选的8个基因的q RT-PCR结果均与芯片结果相符。223个差异基因的COG分析表明Rcs B调控的靶基因主要影响能量的产生和转换,碳、氨基酸的转运和代谢以及细胞壁、外膜的生成等细胞途径。GO富集分析表明Rcs B调控的靶基因主要参与碳水化合物衍生物代谢,酶的催化活性,膜合成等生理生化过程。本研究通过全基因组芯片技术对肺炎克雷伯菌Rcs B的转录谱进行了探究,明确了Rcs B调控的靶基因的相关功能及其调控机制,为通过探究Rcs B的靶基因来进一步深入了解Rcs磷酸信号转导系统对肺炎克雷伯菌毒力的影响奠定了基础。     

肺炎克雷伯菌RcsAB蛋白对荚膜多糖相关基因wcaJ、wcaG和magA的调控关系

荚膜多糖(CPS)是肺炎克雷伯菌(Klebssiella pneumoniae)重要的毒力因子.Rcs系统是肠杆菌科(En-terobacteriacese)中重要的双组分信号转导系统,RcsAB是其中主要的转录调控蛋白.本研究选取了肺炎克雷伯菌NTUH-K2044 cps基因簇上的3个基因(wcaJ,wcaG和magA),研究RcsAB对上述3个基因可能存在的调控关系.通过实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)技术和LacZ报告基因融合试验来确认RcsAB是否能够调控上述3个基因的转录表达.进而用凝胶阻滞试验(EMSA)验证RcsAB能否直接结合在靶基因的启动子区,对靶基因进行直接调控.结果表明RcsAB能够正向调控上述3个基因的转录表达,EMSA的结果提示RcsAB对这3个基因可能是通过间接的方式进行调控.RcsAB蛋白可能通过间接调控荚膜多糖基因wcaJ、wcaG和magA的转录,从而影响菌株的荚膜多糖表型.     

肺炎克雷伯菌RcsAB蛋白对荚膜多糖相关基因wcaJ、wcaG和magA的调控关系

荚膜多糖(CPS)是肺炎克雷伯菌(Klebssiella pneumoniae)重要的毒力因子.Rcs系统是肠杆菌科(En-terobacteriacese)中重要的双组分信号转导系统,RcsAB是其中主要的转录调控蛋白.本研究选取了肺炎克雷伯菌NTUH-K2044 cps基因簇上的3个基因(wcaJ,wcaG和magA),研究RcsAB对上述3个基因可能存在的调控关系.通过实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)技术和LacZ报告基因融合试验来确认RcsAB是否能够调控上述3个基因的转录表达.进而用凝胶阻滞试验(EMSA)验证RcsAB能否直接结合在靶基因的启动子区,对靶基因进行直接调控.结果表明RcsAB能够正向调控上述3个基因的转录表达,EMSA的结果提示RcsAB对这3个基因可能是通过间接的方式进行调控.RcsAB蛋白可能通过间接调控荚膜多糖基因wcaJ、wcaG和magA的转录,从而影响菌株的荚膜多糖表型.     

细菌Cpx双组分信号转导系统应对外界环境变化的响应调节机制研究进展

细菌能够在其他微生物无法生存的环境中生长,必然具有更加强大的适应外界环境的能力。细胞信号转导的效率决定了细菌对外界刺激做出应答反应的速率和能力。双组分调控系统是维持细菌在压力环境中存活的重要结构。Cpx双组分信号转导系统是革兰氏阴性菌中普遍存在的双组分调控系统之一,在响应外界环境变化并做出适应性反应的过程中起着主要作用。本文主要针对细菌中双组分信号转导系统的种类、Cpx双组分信号转导系统参与的调控、Cpx双组分信号转导系统所调控的靶基因及其生理行为的研究进展进行综述,以期为科研人员更深入的研究提供思路和理论基础。     

细菌外膜蛋白参与革兰氏阴性细菌对异丙醇耐受的调节

细菌外膜蛋白与细菌对异丙醇耐受关系密切,但迄今为止尚未见相关研究.本文首先采用基于双向电泳(two dimensional electrophoresis,2-DE)的蛋白质组学技术,研究E.coli K-12 BW25113在有无异丙醇条件下外膜蛋白表达的差异.结果发现,外膜蛋白LamB、FadL和OmpC以及OmpT、Tsx、OmpA和OmpF在异丙醇应激条件下表达量分别上调和下调.然后通过基因敲除、补救和高表达等功能基因组学的方法,探讨这些功能外膜蛋白在异丙醇应激耐受中所起的作用,发现LamB、OmpA和OmpC在E.coli K-12 BW25113对异丙醇耐受过程中起到更重要的作用.最后,对EnvZ/OmpR双组分信号转导系统在对异丙醇耐受中的作用进行了研究,证实EnvZ/OmpR双组分信号转导系统确实参与细菌对异丙醇的耐受.因此,外膜蛋白的改变和EnvZ/OmpR双组分信号转导系统的调节是革兰氏阴性细菌对异丙醇耐受的一种重要机制。     

铜绿假单胞菌的双组分系统

双组分系统是存在于原核和少部分真核生物细胞中的信号转导系统,主要由组氨酸蛋白激酶和反应调节蛋白组成,通过感应外界环境信号、信号输入、磷酸基团传递、信号输出等环节调节基因表达,使细胞能更加适应环境变化。铜绿假单胞菌为条件致病菌,其双组分系统构成多样、功能复杂且参与介导耐药性产生,因此铜绿假单胞菌的双组分系统日益引起人们关注。本文对铜绿假单胞菌双组分系统的组成、信号转导机制、种类、研究方法及其临床意义进行了综述。     

福建某基层医院CRE碳青霉烯类耐药基因分析

目的对福建省南平市第二医院分离的碳青霉烯类耐药肠杆菌科细菌进行碳青霉烯类基因和其他β内酰胺类耐药基因检测。方法收集碳青霉烯类耐药肠杆菌科细菌,采用Vitek-2 Compact全自动细菌鉴定/药敏仪器进行细菌鉴定和药敏试验;采用改良Hodge试验对实验菌株进行表型检测;利用PCR及测序法对常见的碳青霉烯类和β-内酰胺类耐药基因进行检测;质粒接合试验检测碳青霉烯类耐药基因是否具有可转移性。结果共收集到4株碳青霉烯类耐药肠杆菌科细菌,呈多重耐药性。2株改良Hodge试验阳性。试验菌株均检出碳青霉烯类耐药基因(NDM-1、IMP-8或VIM-2),并同时携带有其他β内酰胺类基因;4株细菌中有3株的碳青霉烯类耐药基因接合成功。结论碳青霉烯类耐药肠杆菌科细菌已在福建基层医院出现,并具有一定传播性,应引起相关主管部门的注意,以防耐药菌的流行。     

拟南芥植物中的双组分信号系统

双组分信号系统是普遍存在于原核和真核细胞中,在进化上较保守的信号转导系统,主要由组氨酸蛋白激酶和应答调控器组成。双组分信号系统在植物的生长和发育中起非常重要的作用。随着拟南芥基因组测序的完成和功能基因组的深入研究发现,在拟南芥基因组中有55种参与双组分信号系统磷酸传递的蛋白。本文应用生物信息学的基本手段,如序列比较、多个序列比对、系统进化树分析、跨膜区分析、二级结构预测等,对这些蛋白进行系统分类,结构分析,并对在信号转导中已知功能的蛋白进行归类总结,便于人们了解双组分信号系统的作用机制及其在植物中的功能。     

宁波地区肠杆菌科细菌碳青霉烯酶基因的检测研究

目的对宁波地区耐碳青霉烯类肠杆菌科细菌的耐药情况和碳青霉烯酶耐药基因进行研究了解。方法收集2010年1月至11月耐亚胺培南(IPM)、美罗培南(MEM)或厄他培南(ETP)的肠杆菌科菌株进行Hodge试验确认,对于阳性试验菌株PCR同时检测blaKPC、blaNDM-1、blaIMI-1、blaGES、blaSME、blaNmcA和blaSHV-387种基因。结果共收集到肠杆菌科细菌256株,其中耐碳青霉烯类肠杆菌科细菌16株,占6.1%;采用改良Hodge试验确认阳性10株,占62.5%株。PCR检测显示10株均携带有blaKPC,其中肺炎克雷伯菌6株,产气肠杆菌2株,阴沟肠杆菌2株。结论宁波地区产blaKPC型碳青霉烯酶是肠杆菌科细菌耐碳青霉烯类药物的关键因素,其编码基因位于可转移质粒进行传播使得目前的耐药情况越来越严峻。     

外环境压力对福氏志贺菌荚膜异多糖酸合成调节子转录的影响

荚膜异多糖酸合成调节子(regulator of colanic acid capsule synthesis,Rcs)对大肠埃希菌适应外环境压力具有重要调控功能,但其在志贺菌中的功能尚未见报道。为探索外环境压力对福氏志贺菌Rcs编码基因rcs转录水平的影响,本研究采用核苷酸序列比对及蛋白结构域预测等生物信息学方法分析福氏志贺菌的Rcs编码基因簇rcsBDC,利用实时定量聚合酶链反应(quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,qRT-PCR),对该菌不同生长时期的rcsB、rcsD、rcsC基因转录水平进行分析,并检测在不同pH值培养基、渗透压条件下的基因转录水平。结果显示,福氏志贺菌rcsBDC在培养5～6 h(对数中期)时转录水平较高,8～10 h(稳定期)时转录水平较低(P<0.001);10 h时,rcsB和rcsD在酸性、渗透压条件下的转录水平均显著高于正常条件下的转录水平(P<0.05)。结果提示,外环境刺激可提高福氏志贺菌在稳定期的rcsB和rcsD转录水平,为志贺菌适应胃肠道酸性、渗透压环境的机制研究提供了一定理论基础。     

The Rcs phosphorelay system is essential for pathogenicity in Erwinia amylovora

The Rcs phosphorelay system is a modified two-component signal transduction system found exclusively in Enterobacteriaceae . In this study, we characterized the roles of the Rcs system in Erwinia amylovora , a highly virulent and necrogenic enterobacterium causing fire blight disease on rosaceous plants. Our results showed that rcsB , rcsC , rcsD and rcsBD mutants were non-pathogenic on immature pear fruit. The bacterial growth of these mutants was also greatly reduced compared with that of the wild-type strain in immature pear fruit. In an in vitro amylovoran assay, rcsB and rcsD mutants were deficient in amylovoran production, whereas the rcsC mutant exhibited higher amylovoran production than that of the wild-type. Consistent with amylovoran production, expression of the amylovoran biosynthetic gene amsG , using green fluorescent protein as a reporter, was not detectable in rcsB , rcsD and rcsBD mutants both in vitro and in vivo . The expression of amsG in vitro was higher in the rcsC mutant than in the wild-type, whereas its expression in vivo was higher in the wild-type than in the rcsC mutant. In addition, rcs mutants were more susceptible to polymyxin B treatment than the wild-type, suggesting that the Rcs system conferred some level of resistance to polymyxin B. Furthermore, rcs mutants showed irregular and slightly reduced motility on swarming plates. Together, these results indicate that the Rcs system plays a major role in virulence and survival of E. amylovora in immature pear fruit.     

The Response regulator HrpY of Dickeya dadantii 3937 regulates virulence genes not linked to the hrp cluster

HrpX/Y is a putative two-component system (TCS) encoded within the type III secretion system (T3SS) gene cluster of Dickeya dadantii. A linear regulatory cascade initiated by HrpX/Y that leads to activation of the downstream T3SS genes via HrpS and HrpL was described previously. Therefore, in D. dadantii, HrpX/Y plays an important role in regulation of genes involved in bacteria-plant interactions and bacterial aggregation via the T3SS. HrpX/Y is the only TCS shared among the plant-pathogenic enterobacteria that is not also present in animal-associated enterobacteria. To date, the genes known to be regulated by HrpY are restricted to the hrp and hrc genes and no signal has been identified that triggers HrpY-dependent gene expression. We demonstrated that HrpY interacts with the hrpS promoter in vitro. We then used a transposon-based system to isolate previously unidentified HrpY-dependent genes, including genes previously shown to affect virulence, including kdgM and acsC. HrpY is a dual regulator, positively regulating at least 10 genes in addition to those in the hrp gene cluster and negatively regulating at least 5 genes. The regulatory effect on one gene depended on the culture medium used. Of the 16 HrpY-regulated genes identified in this screen, 14 are not present in Pectobacterium atrosepticum, the nearest relative of D. dadantii with a sequenced genome. None of the newly identified HrpY-regulated genes were required for bacterial aggregation; thus, neither acyl-homoserine lactone-mediated quorum sensing nor the Rcs signal transduction system which regulates colanic acid, a molecule that plays an important role in biofilm formation in other enterobacteria, are required for D. dadantii aggregation.     

The Bacterial Cytoskeleton Modulates Motility,Type 3 Secretion,and Colonization in Salmonella

Although there have been great advances in our understanding of the bacterial cytoskeleton, major gaps remain in our knowledge of its importance to virulence. In this study we have explored the contribution of the bacterial cytoskeleton to the ability of Salmonella to express and assemble virulence factors and cause disease. The bacterial actin-like protein MreB polymerises into helical filaments and interacts with other cytoskeletal elements including MreC to control cell-shape. As mreB appears to be an essential gene, we have constructed a viable ΔmreC depletion mutant in Salmonella. Using a broad range of independent biochemical, fluorescence and phenotypic screens we provide evidence that the Salmonella pathogenicity island-1 type three secretion system (SPI1-T3SS) and flagella systems are down-regulated in the absence of MreC. In contrast the SPI-2 T3SS appears to remain functional. The phenotypes have been further validated using a chemical genetic approach to disrupt the functionality of MreB. Although the fitness of ΔmreC is reduced in vivo, we observed that this defect does not completely abrogate the ability of Salmonella to cause disease systemically. By forcing on expression of flagella and SPI-1 T3SS in trans with the master regulators FlhDC and HilA, it is clear that the cytoskeleton is dispensable for the assembly of these structures but essential for their expression. As two-component systems are involved in sensing and adapting to environmental and cell surface signals, we have constructed and screened a panel of such mutants and identified the sensor kinase RcsC as a key phenotypic regulator in ΔmreC. Further genetic analysis revealed the importance of the Rcs two-component system in modulating the expression of these virulence factors. Collectively, these results suggest that expression of virulence genes might be directly coordinated with cytoskeletal integrity, and this regulation is mediated by the two-component system sensor kinase RcsC.     

Genetic Analysis of the RcsC Sensor Kinase from Escherichia coli K-12

The Rcs two-component pathway is involved in the regulation of capsule production in Escherichia coli. RcsC is predicted to be the sensor component of this two-component pathway, and in this study we present the first genetic data that support the role of RcsC as a hybrid sensor kinase.